Apparatus for processing synthetic textile fibers



Aug. 25, 1942. 1.. c. HOSFIELD APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING SYNTHETIC TEXTILE FIBERS Filed Dec. 30, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 D L mm VF TS E c E Ry; N H O .h

ATTORN EY 25, 2- L. c. HOSFIELD 3 58 APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING SYNTHETIC TEXTILE FIBERS Filed Deb. so', --195s. -5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR LEE C. HQS'F IELD 5 7 BY r Y Y ATk'ORNEY Aug. 1942- L. c. HOSFIELD 2,293,825

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING SYNTHETIC TEXTILE FIBERS Filed Dec. 30, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGI.

INVENTOR LEE C.HOSFIEL.D

ATTORNEY g 25, 1942- L. c. HOSFIELD 2,293,825

APPARATUS FOR rnocassme SYNTHETIC TEXTILE FIBERS Filed Dec. 30, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEY LEE C. HOSFIELD 1942- L. c. HOSFIELD 2, 93,825

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING SYNTHETIC TEXTILE FIBERS Filed Dec. 30, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 M FIG.I[L.\ F'IGEHI.

INVENTOR LEE C. HOSFIELD ATTORN E.Y

Patented Aug. 25, 1942 APPARATUS FOR rnocnss'mg SYNTHETIC TEXTILE FIBER Lee 0. Hosfield, Parma, Ohio, assignor to Carbide and Carbon Chemicals Corporation, a corpora-- tion of New York ApplicationDccember 30, 1938, Serial No. 248,462

18 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of treating artificial fibers and particularly to an improved apparatus for treating the fibers continuously on a commercial scale.

Although the invention is broadly applicable to the processing of many kinds of synthetic fibers, such as those made from the cellulose derivatives, vinyl resins and the like, it is primarily designed for the treatment of filaments made from the vinyl resins. Of these, the invention is particularly directed to the processing of filaments made from the vinyl esterl'esins which may result from the conjoint'polymerization of vinyl halides with vinyl esters of aliphatic acids. Those resins are preferred which are made by the conjoint polymerization of vinyl chloride with vinyl acetate, containing between about 70% and about 95% vinyl chloride in the polymer and having high average macromolecular weights, preferably in excess of 15,000. Molecular weights referred to herein are those calculated by means of Staudinger's formula issued June 6, 1939, to E. W. Rugeley, T. A. Feild.

Jr., and J. I". Conlon.

An object 01. this invention is to provide a machine for continuously efiecting an orientation of the macromolecules or micellae of the molecular structure of synthetic fibers or yarns by elongation, either while passing themthrough a heated chamber or without subjecting them to heat other than normal atmospheric temperatures, and by processing them either wet a machine designed to elongate synthetic yarns from viscosity determinations of solutions of the resins.

, In the production of artificial yarns, after the plastic has been spun into filaments, it is usually necessary to pass the yarn through one or more-processing steps in order to produce a yarn of suitable physical properties. The most common treatment consists in stretching the yarn to increase its strength. For certain types of artificial fibers additional treatments are necessary, in order to render permanentthe advantages gained in the stretching process. Thus, with highly elastic fibers, such as those produced'from the vinyl resins described above.

the stretch imparted to the yarn must be "set or else the yarn will contract upon being unwound from the bobbin. The setting treatment may comprise aging the yarn for a period of time under tension or subjecting it to elevated temperatures below its softening point, either dry or submerged in a liquid medium. In the case of some artificial yarns, notably those produced from vinyl resins, the stretching operation imparts a hard feel or hand," which must be removed in order to produce a commercially desirable textile. This hardness of texture may be removed by fiexing" the yarn or passing it over rollers or guides of small diameter at fairly high speeds.

continuously at various percentages of. stretch on a commercial basis.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of a machine for reducing the denier of synthetic filaments to a size smaller than can beproduced'in the spinningor extruding operation; the provision of a. machine forthe continuous setting or stabilizing and flexing of synthetic yarns simultaneously by passing them through one or more heating and cooling cycles; the provision of amachine for the continuous flexing of synthetic fibers or yarns by running them over rollers of small diameter to effect a bending action; either in .the presence ofwater or while in the dry state; and the provision of a means for producing delustered finished yarn uniformly by elongation.

Special objects of the invention include the provision of yarn processing mechanisms of unitary construction, any number of which may be duplicated, and each of which may be capable of individual and selective operation; the provision of a machine including a plurality of such unitary yarn processing mechanisms in which a separate clutch and brake device is provided for each unit, and adapted automatically to disengage it from the source of power and quickly stop it independently or the other units upon breakage of the yarn orupon passage of the end or the yarn through the processing mechanism, said device also including means for starting said unit and for bringing it up to speed evenly while it is being coupled to the common source of power without, however, interiering with the other units of the machine.

Other special objects include the provision of stretcher rolls having surfaces of a phenol-forma1dehyde resin bonded with a base of p per. canvas 01' linen, and feed or take-up friction rollers used to drive the bobbins having surfaces of b and the provision of a yarn guide which traverses the take-up bobbin as the ram In the drawings, Fig. Isis an elevational view of a yarn processing machine embodying the principles of the invention;

Fig. II is a schematic diagram of a yarn processing unit, Y2 of Fig. I, adapted to stretch the yarn while in contact with a liquid;

Fig. III is a schematic diagram of a yarn flexing and setting unit employing a common drive for the feed and take-up bobbins as shown in the yarn processing unit Y: of Fig. I;

Fig. IV is a schematic diagram of that portion of the yarn processing unit Y: of Fig. I wherein the setting and flexing of the yarn takes place;

Fig. V is an end elevational view of the yarn processing machine shown in Fig. I;

Fig. vl i 'safjsectional view of theyarn processing machine shown in Fig. I, taken approximately along the line VI--VI of Fig. I, and showing on the rear side of the machine a yarn processing unit corresponding to Y2 of Fig. I;

Fig. VII is a sectional view taken approximately along the line VII-VII of Fig. I, and showing a plan view of a unit corresponding to Y: of Fig. I on the rear side of the machine; and

Fig. VIII is a sectional View taken approximately along the line VIII-VIII of Fig. I, and showing a duplicate unit on the rear' side of the machine.

Referring to Fig. I, the principles of the invention are shown as applied to a machine adapted to drive a plurality of yarn processing units, each of which may perform the same or approximately one-half roll l8 partly submerged in a bath J9, thence upwardly and a half turn around a canted idler roll (i. e. the idler roll 20 is positioned at a slight angle to the roll [8 so that the yarn travels from. one end of the rollers to the other in a helical path) and downwardly around the roll 18 again, preferably making a minimum of four turns around-both rolls I8 and 20. The purpose of the canted roll 20 is to separate or space the progressive wraps of yarn to prevent plane as the axis of the friction roll I8, but

a different operation on the yarn being treated.

The machine disclosed comprises a frame F upon which is mounted a power transmission mechanism P adapted to drive a common drive shaft D from which a plurality of yarn processing units, such as Y1, Y2 and Ya, are independently driven. The power transmission mechanism P is likewise adapted to drive a reciprocating bobbin traversing mechanism T, as well as a common reciprocating device R adapted to actuate a trip-off mechanism Tr for each individual processing unit Y.

The yarn processing unit Y2, in Fig. I, is adapted to stretch the yarn while the same is in contact with a liquid. This unit is schematically represented in Fig. II of the drawings. Referring -to Figs. I and II, a bobbin l0,

loaded with the yarn to be processed, is placed in a bobbin holder I2 in position relative to a friction feed roll I4 so that the latter frictionally engages the yarn and meters it off at' a given uniform rate, there being sufficient friction be tween the yarn on the bobbin l0 and the friction feed roll M to maintain the tension of the yarn caused by the stretching process. II is made of, or covered with, a suitable material such as rubber which has a high coefficient of friction to insure good traction and sufficient resilience to prevent injury to the yarn. The feed roll l4 rotates in a bath l6 that supplies a film of water or other liquid to the yarn. The yarn thus wetted is less susceptible to injury while passing through the process.

The yarn is fed fromthe bobbin-l0 to, and

The feed roll.

' temperature will range between about 5 and v canted so that the end of the roll 20 which carries the last wrap of yarn before the latter leaves the friction roll l8 on the next half turn is nearer the friction roll I8. The numerous turns, or wraps of yarn around the rolls l8 and 20 are for the purpose of preventing slippage of the yarn, due to increased tension as it leaves the roll l8. The number of turns or wraps that' are required is determined by the denier of the yarn being processed, and by the temperature of the liquid bath 19 in which the friction roll I8 is partly submerged. In practice, it is often desirable to drive the roll 20 by positive means in order to relieve the yarn of any unnecessary stress or possible abrasion. This is most easily accomplished by placing a rubber band around both the rolls l8 and 20 so that the friction roll l8 will drive the roll 20 upon rotation. For this purpose, a groove 2| is provided on the end of the roll 20, over which the elastic band is passed and which is sufficient to retain the band in position during operation. This positive drive is especially necessary when very fine denier yarn is being processed.

The bath l9, being water or other liquid, is

varied in temperature to suit best operating con ditions For stretch percentages up to 200% the about 95 C., and for percentages from 100% to 300% the temperature will range from 30 to 150 C. Obviously, if temperatures above 100' C. are employed, a liquid boiling at a higher temperature than water, such as the glycols or glycerine, would be employed.

In order to insure the positive feeding of the yarn at a substantially constant velocity to the roll l8, an idler sheave 22 is provided. It is positioned at a distance from the supply bobbin l0 equal to at least about three times the wrapped length of the bobbin. This distance is indicated in Fig. II as 32:, with the wrapped length of the bobbin i0 indicated as at. The purpose of so positioning the idler sheave 22 is to minimize the effects of a varying length of yarn between the bobbin l0 and the roll l8, due to the angularity of the yarn when unwinding from the ends of the bobbin.

The friction roll I8 is constantly rotated in the bath l9. To withstand this condition as well as possess characteristics of good traction and yet be readily machinable to a smooth surface which will not be susceptible to scoring or blemishing when in service, a phenol-formaldehyde resin bonded with a base of paper, canvas or linen is used. An outstanding advantage of using this material for this purpose is long life without turn around, a friction v distortion or change in size, which insures constant peripheral speeds indefinitely.

The yarn is caused to be stretched by rewinding it on a take-up bobbin at a greater speed than the speed at which it is unwound from the supply bobbin l0. Between a take-up bobbin 24, which is positioned against a friction roll 26 by a holder 28 so that the roll 26 frictionally drives the bobbin 24 (in the same manner as the bobbin i is driven by the roll l4), and the roll l8, the yarn passes over an'idler sheave 30 that is mounted upon the traverse mechanism T, which latter is reciprocated to cause the yarn to be wound uniformly on the take-up bobbin 24. For the same reason that the idler sheave 22 is positioned at a distance from the supply bobbin I0 equal to at least three times the wrapped length of the bobbin, the idler sheave 30 is similarly positioned with respect to the friction roll Hi. The frictional surface of the roll 26 is rubber, as is thecase with theroll l4, so that whentheroll 25is driven at a greater peripheral speed than that of the roll l8, it correspondingly rotates the bobbin 24 faster than the yarn is unwound from the roll I8, thereby efiecting a stretching of the yarn between the bobbin 24 and the roll- I8.

The flexing and setting operations of this invention may be performed by several methods. The preferred method comprises passing the yarn through a similar unit as usedfor the stretching operation, threading the yarn, for example, from the supply bobbin l0 around the various rolls and sheaves and rewinding it on the take-up bobbin 24 as illustrated in Fig. II,and described above for the stretching operation. The essential difference between these operations of stretching and of flexing and setting resides in the temperature of the water bath l9 (usually above room temperature) and the speed ratio between the supply bobbin l0 and the take-up bobbin 24.

For flexing and setting, the peripheral speeds of both bobbins are the same, or the speeds are at a 1:1 ratio. Thus the yarn is passed continuously through a heating and cooling cycle (when withdrawn from the bath into the air) and is prevented from contracting by the positive unwinding and rewinding of the bobbins as it is stabilized or set in the water bath i9, and flexed by bending over the canted roll 20. The temperature that is used for stabilizing or setting depends on a number of factors including the speed of operation, the number of wraps around the friction roll l8 that submerges the yarn in the water, the percentage of elongation the yarn has been given, and the desired texture of the finished yarn, as

is placed in a bobbin holder 34 that positions the yarn cake of the bobbin 32 against feed roll 36. The friction feed roll 36 rotates the bobbin 32, thus metering off yarn at a given uniform rate in the same manner as described in connection with the. action of roll I4 of Fig. II. From the supply bobbin 32 the yarn is passed over an idler sheave 38, thence around a friction roll 40 onehalf turn and, as shown in Fig. III, over a canted idler roll 43, preferably making about four wraps in the same manner as described for the stretching operation. In the unit Y: of Fig. I, the yarn passes from the roll 40 over, under and over the flexing rollers'42, preferably making about four wrapsas shown schematically in Fig. IV. The

friction roll 40 is immersed in a bath 4| in the same manner as described for the stretching described in the above-mentioned Patent No.

The yarn processing unit Y3, of Fig. I, is adapted to flex and set the yarn while it is in contact with a liquid, and differs from the yarn processing unit Y2 in that, (1) only one roll is employed to drive both the feed and take-up bobbins, and (2) the yarn is flexed by passing it around a plurality of rollers having very small diameters, rather than a single, larger roll, such as the idler roll 20 of the yarn processing unit Y2. If desired, the yarn may be flexed by passing it around a single flexing roll, such as the idler roll 20 of Fig. II (also shown schematically as idler roll 43 in Fig, III), rather than a plurality of very small diameter rollers, and this is preferred where the supply and take-up bobbins are driven by separate friction rolls, such as is shown in the yarn processing unit Y2. Both types of flexing rollers are interchangeable and may be merged in the bath 4|, as shown in the unit Y: of Fig. I. From the friction roll 40 the yarn passes upwardly to an idler sheave 44 mounted on the traverse mechanism T in the identical manner as for the idler sheave 30, shown schematically in Fig. II. From the idler sheave 44 the yarn passes to a take-up bobbin 46 placed in a, bobbin holder 48 which positions the bobbin 46 on the friction roll 35 opposite the bobbin 32. Since the bobbin 32 and the bobbin 48 are both driven from the common friction roll 36, a 1:1 ratio of unwinding the yarn from the bobbin 32 and winding it on the bobbin 46 is insured.

The flexing rollers 42, shown schematically in Fig. IV, may be varied in diameter from 0.030 to 1.5 inches, but it has been found that steel rollers 0.125 inch in diameter are very eifective for flexing the yarn, yet large enough to avoid difliculties of mechanical construction. The extreme speeds at which the rollers 42 must rotate (normally 8,000 to 20,000 R. P. M.) necessitates the use of bearing materials having a low coefficient of friction, and preferably capable of being sufliciently lubricated by water, or whatever fluid is used for the setting bath in which they may be immersed. In addition the bearing surfaces should possess long wearing qualities and non-corroding properties. Bearings possessing the above characteristics may be of the point type as shown in Fig. IV or they may be plain shoulder bearings, made of carbon.

Another method of setting or stabilizing the yarn is by bringing water at the required temperature in contact with the stretched yarn as it is being rewound on the take up bobbin. This may be done as shown in Fig. II, by rotating the friction roll 26 in a water bath 50, thus carrying a film of water to the yarn on the bobbin 24, or by directing a jet of water from a nozzle 52 upon the yarn as it is being wound upon the bobbin 24; Yarn which is set by these methods is usually flexed by a subsequent operation in the event that a very soft textured yarn is required.

In the stretching operation, or in the flexingoperation wherein a yarn processing unit of the type indicated in Fig. I, as Y2, is employed, the

holders II4 which are held in the proper position by vernier adjustments II6 (shown in Figs. I and VI). Assembled on the thread guide holders II4 are wire type guides II8, shown in detail in Fig. VI, and the thread guide idler sheaves 36, 44, and the like for each yarn processing unit,

over which the yarn rides as it changes from a and endframes 56 and 58 form the main structure of the machine and support directly or indirectly all parts of the-machine. The end frames 56 and 58 are connected by the center drive channel 54 and an upper frame support 86. I A spacer (not shown) may be placed between the end frames 56 and 58 and below the center drive channel 54 to separate the lower parts of the end frames 56 and 58 and to increase the rigidity of the machine. The center drive channel 54 is a rugged cast ction..designed to carry all the intervening weight between the end frames 56 and 58. In

the center of its hollow section is mounted the main drive shaft D which rotates in ball bearand D are connected together by a flexible coupling 68. The upper frame support 66, in addition to connecting the end frames together, carries bobbin holder parts and anchors the individual yarn processing units, thereby increasing the rigidity of the entire system.

The power transmission mechanism P is designed to transmit power for all movements of the machine. to synchronize all functions of the various Darts and to provide a means of changing the speed at which the traverse mechanism T reciprocates in proportion to the peripheral speed of the take-up bobbins. Referring to Figs. I and V, the drive shaft 66, which is an integral part of a worm drive I6, is adapted to be rotated by a chain drive sprocket I2 (shown in Fig. I)

which is connected by a chain" to a motor 16, the slack in the chain being taken up by an idler sprocket I8. A worm gear 86 which is driven by the worm drive I6 is mounted on a shaft 82 that drives a shaft 84 through spur change gears 86 and 88. On the shaft 82 is alsov mounted a spur gear 86 which drives an eccentric 92 through a spur gear 94. The eccentric 92 aetuates a connecting rod 96 which in turn operates the reciprocating mechanism R. The eccentric 82 rotates on the shaft 84 at a constant speed, while the shaft 84 rotates at different speeds depend-- ing on the ratio of the number of teeth in the gears 86 and 88. Fixed on the shaft 84 is a spur gear 88 that drives a spur gear I66 on a drive shaft I62. 0n the shaft I62 are mounted two uniform-rise cams I64 that actuate the traverse mechanism T. The worm I6, shafts 82, 84 and I62 rotatein bearings mounted in the gear box 64. The gears and mechanism are accessible through an opening at the top of the gear box 64 by removing a cover I68 and through the side by removing a cover I66.

The traverse mechanism T is designed to guide the'processed yarn traversely across the take-up bobbins between their flanges while the yarn is being wound. in such a manner as to build a straight, uniform cake. Referring to Figs. I and V, traverse bars II6 reciprocate in bearings I I2 .where they are keyed to prevent rotation. On the traverse bars II6 are'mounted thread guide vertical path to one in the direction of the bobbin. 7

The traverse bars I I6 are adapted to be reciprocated by th combined action of the cams I64 and tension springs I26 which move traverse bar actuating levers I22, which latter are connected to the traverse bars II6 by drag links I24 and drag link clevis I26. On the traverse bar actuating levers I22 are mounted eccentric octagonal cam followers I28 normally adapted to slidingly engage the cams I64 and which index once every revolution of the cams by virtue of the undercut portions I36, causing the traverse bars II6 to shift reversing points progressively four times in each direction. The cam followers I26 may have a different number of sides from eight, although this number permits the build-up of a very uniform yarn cake on thetake-up bobbins. The purpose of this movement is to compensate for the dwell of the yarn being wound on the bobbin at the end of the stroke, during which time the yarn would build an uneven cake if no correction were provided.

The wire, or slotted, guide H8 is designed with a profile curved so that the distance from the point of contact of the yarn against the guide to the point of tangency of the yarn on the bobbin, or yarn cake (marked "11 in Fig. VI), is constant as the yarn is wound. By setting the guide II8 close to the bobbin, the distance which the traverse bar II6 must travel, upon reversalof direction, to change the location of the thread being wound on the bobbin is minimized, with the consequent reduction in the dwell of the yarn at the end of each stroke and the production of a more uniform yarn cake on the bobbin. By employing a guide having the profile described, the distance it may be maintained constantly at a minimum, thus permitting adjustment of th eccentricity and size of the cam follower I28 to shift the reversing point of the traverse bar II6 the right amount to compensate completely for the small, but unavoidable, amount of dwell of the yarn at the end of each stroke.

The reciprocating mechanism R is designed to actuate the individual, identical trip-01f mechanisms Tfz, Tn, etc. on the units Y2, Y3, etc. respectively. The connecting rod 96 reciprocates the rods I82 located on each side of the center drive channel 54, through a cross bar I34, the

opposite ends of which are fixed to the rods I82. The rods I32 are adapted to reciprocate in guide brackets I86, shown in Figs. I and VI, that are mounted on but extend outwardly from the center drive channel 54. On the rods I32 are mounted trip-ofl' arms I38, shownin Figs. 1, VI and VIII, one for each trip-off mechanism Tr on each yarn processing unit, in order to furnish the power to the trip-off mechanisms Tr to disengage the units from the central drive shaft I) trip-01f by the individual units Y1, Y2, Y3, etc. with the aid of the previously mentioned auxiliary parts. The individualyarn processing unit, of which there can be many assembled on a machine, is

primarily a positive type rewinding device that can be operated independently of any other unit at equal or differential peripheral speeds between the unwinding or feed bobbins and the rewinding or take-up bobbins to obtain any required percentage of stretch or to rewind without stretch during the flexing and setting operatlons.

Referring to Fig. VII, which shows a cross sectional view of the yarn processing unit Y2 taken along the line V-II--VII of Fig. I, and a plan view of a similar unit which may be located on the other side of the central drive channel 54, the power'for the operation of the units is transmitted from the center drive shaft D through the bevel gears I40 and I42. The bevel gear I42 is mounted on a clutch driving sleeve I44 which rotates in ball bearings I46. Through the center of the clutch sleeve I44 is a transmission drive shaft I48 which carries the friction clutch parts I50 to I66 inclusive. The clutch parts consist of a driving plate I50 fixed to one end of arshift sleeve I52 which is splined to the shaft I48; a brake plate I54 fixed to the opposite end of the shift sleeve I52; a compression plate I56 having an extended hub portion I58 slidably m'ounted upon the shift sleeve I52 (preferably splined thereto) between the plates I50 and I54; compression springs I60 between the plates I50 and I56; a clutch lining disc I62 fixed to the flanged portion of the clutch driving sleeve I44; and a clutch shift ring I64 connected to the hub I58 through a ball bearing I66. -The function of this clutch is to connect the clutch driving sleeve I44 to the transmission drive shaft I48 in such a manner that there will be little or 'no slippage when the yarn processing unit has been brought up to speed, but that the unit will be gradually accelerated when beginning operation, particularly to facilitat starting of the stretching operation.

When the clutch is disengaged, the stop plate I54 is pushed against a brake lining disc I68 which brings the disengaged unit to rest almost instantly.

n the shaft I48 is keyed a spur gear I that dri'ees a gear I12. The gear H2 is fixed to on end of friction feed roll shaft I14 that extends through a boss on the front cover and over the water bath I6. On the other end of the shaft I14 and extending down into the bath I6 is friction feed roll I4. The drive shaft I48 also extends through the front cover of the water bath I9 and has mounted on ita stretcher roll adapter I16 which holds the stretcher roll I8.

Referring to Fig. I and Fig. VII, the take up bobbin 24 and its associated parts are likewise driven through the clutch and brake mechanism previously described. This is accomplished by providing a bevel gear I18 on a horizontal shaft I80, which latter is driven by a spur gear I 82. The spur gear I82 is driven by a spur gear I84 which is keyed to the shaft I48. When changing from one percentage of stretch to another, the spur gears I82 and I84 are replaced with others having the required tooth ratio. The clutch mechanism parts I50 to I66 inclusive, the

spur gears I10, I12, I82 and I84, the shaft I80 and the bevel gear I18 are enclosed in a gear box I86.

Referring to Fig. I, and to Fig. VI (which shows a yarn winding mechanism, a trip-off mechanism and means for driving the yarn winding mechanism identical in all of the yarn procssing units), a torque tube I88 extends upward from the gear box I86 to a gear box I90 (shown this tube is to take the torque of the gears,

support the gear box I90 and to enclose the moving parts to retain the lubricant and exclude foreign matter.

The gear box I90 is mounted on the torque tube I88 and contains a bevel gear 202 and horizontal shaft 204. The friction take-up roll .26 is mounted on the shaft 204. The take-up bobbin 24 is supported in the bobbin holder 28 which positions the bobbin on the friction takeup roll 26 in the same manner in which the feed bobbin I0 of yarn processing unit Y2 is positioned on the friction feed roll I4 by the bobbin holder I2, r i

In Fig. VII the bobbin holder 28 hinges on a bracket 206 which permits the bobbin to rise as it is being filled with yarn. The bobbin holder 28 has a hinged side 208 that is kept tight against thread guides 22. These roller thread guides, as

previously explained, are positioned at this elevation to reduce the angularity of the yarn as it is unwound from the supply bobbin I0.

As previously stated, the individual yarn processing units Y1, Y2, Y3, etc. are started and stopped by a special friction clutch and brake. This clutch is controlled manually for starting the unit, and the unit is automatically stopped if the yarn being processed should break or when an end is reached. Referring to' Figs. I, VI and VIII, the machine is started by moving a clutchengaging lever 2I6 inwardly until a clutch-actuating lever 2I8 engages with a clutch latch 220 which is held in place by a clutch latch spring 222. The clutch-actuating lever 2I8 is also held under tension by a spring224 which causes it to reverse when the clutch-latch 220 is disengaged. The levers 2I6 and 2I8 are fixed on a clutch lever shaft 226 and rotate a clutch shift fork 228 toengage the clutch (Fig. VII).

The unit can be stopped either manually or automatically by means of the trip-off mechanism Trz (Fig. I). As the yarn goes from the stretcher roll I8 of the unit Y2 (or the roll 40 of the yarn processing unit Y3) to the thread guide roller 30 mounted on the traverse bar H0, it passes through a wire guide 230 which is secured in a trip lever 232 (Fig. VIII). The trip lever 232 pivots on a rod 234 that extends between bosses on a trip mechanism holder 236. The wire guide 230 is prevented from moving outwardly by a stop 238 keeping it always unbalanced inwardly. While the yarn is kept taut by the processing operation, the trip lever 232 and the wire guide 230 are held in a vertical position, but when a break in the yarn occurs or when an end is reached they fall backward on a balance lever 240. The balance lever 248 is mounted in a carriage 242 which is fixed on pins 244. This assembly slides transversely in lever 232 falls on the balance lever 240 the latter becomes overbalanced and the low end 246 tips upward in the path of the trip-01f arm I38, which moves the lever and the carriage assembly along, causing one of the pins 2 to disengage the latch 220, releasing the friction clutch to stop the unit. The balance lever 240 can also be overbalanced manually to cause the unit to stop.

When yarns having specific characteristics are desired, the condition under which they are processed can be predetermined accurately and later duplicated to produce yarn uniformly within commercial limits.

Fold-example, to obtain a finished yarn of 100 denier having a twist or four turns per inch, either right or left hand. having a texture of extreme softness, possessing flexibility and having a delustered finish, filaments spun from the vinyl resins previously described will be processed in the following manner:

In preparing the yarn for the stretching operation, suificient filaments are assembled on a doubling and twisting machine to form a yarn of 277 denier and are then twisted together with eleven turns per inch and wound on a suitable bobbin or spool.

A supply of yarn thus prepared is placed on the stretching machine where it passes from a supply bobbin to and around the stretcher rolls to be subjected to a heat treatment by rotating the stretcher roll partially submerged in a water bath maintained at about 92 C. The yarn passes around the stretcher and canted rolls six turns or laps, which has been found to give the yarn the proper time exposure when being processed at a speed of approximately 80 meters per minute. The yarn is then wound or reeled onto the take-up bobbin at a peripheral speed of 277% that of the unwinding speed of the supply bobbin, resulting in a 177% stretch and reducing the yarn from 277 denier to 100 denier.

The flexing and setting operation is performed in the same manner except that the supply bobbin and the take-up bobbin operate at the same peripheral speed. The yarn passes through a heating and cooling cycle as before, making six turns or laps around the roll known as the stretcher roll in the stretching operation and the canted roll, where the proper time exposure is made in a water bath that is maintained at about 82 C. The yarn, after being rewound on the take-up bobbin, is then finished ready for coning or packaging as required.

The spun yarn before stretching has a strength of 0.85 gram per'denier and an elongation or extensibility of about 130%. After the yarn has been stretched 177%, set and flexed, its strength may increase to 2.7 grams per denier with an elongation of 4%- Many modifications of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it should not be limited other than as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for processing artificial textile yarns by stretching, flexing, setting and the like, comprisin in combination, at least one individual yarn processing unit including frictionally driven supply and take-up bobbins, a combined clutch-and-brake mechanism, means for driving at least one of said bobbins through said clutchand-brake mechanism, and means for maintaining a predetermined ratio of speed between said supply bobbin and said take-up bobbin; said clutch-and-brake mechanism being normally urged toward clutch-disengaging and brake-engaging position; means for holding said clutchand-brake mechanism in position for driving at least one of said bobbins; trip-off control means held in position by the yarn in process; and a reciprocating member adapted to cooperate with said trip-off control means upon the discontinuity of the yarn in process for releasing said clutch-and-brake holding means.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said combined clutch-and-brake mechanism comprises a. clutch disc driven by said driving means, a second clutch disc adapted to engage with said first clutch disc, at least one clutch spring, a lever, an axle, a carriage slidably mounted on and adapted to be moved along said axle by said lever, said second clutch disc being connected to said carriage by said clutch spring, a brake disc mounted on said carriage, a second brake disc with which said first brake disc is adapted to engage frictionally; the construction and arrangement being such that movement of. said lever in one direction causes said clutch discs to be engaged and saidbrake discs to be disengaged, and movement of said lever in the reverse direction causes said clutch discs to be disengaged and said brake discs to be engaged.

3. An apparatus for processing artificial textile yarn by stretching, flexing, setting and the like, comprising in combination at least one individual yarn processing unit having: a frictionally driven supply bobbin; a frictionally driven take-up bobbin; a combined clutch-and-brake mechanism composed of a driving clutch disc, a second clutch disc adapted to engage with said driving clutch disc, a lever, an axle, a carriage connected to said lever being slideably mounted on said axle, at least one clutch spring, said second clutch disc being connected to said carriage by said clutch spring, a brake disc mounted on said carriage, a second brake disc adapted to be frictionally engaged with said first brake disc, and an automatic clutch-disengaging and brakeengaging means; a P wer transmitting means connecting said clutch-and-brake mechanism to at least one of said bobbins, means for maintaining a predetermined ratio of speed between said supply bobbin and said take-up bobbin; means for driving said clutch-and-brake mechanism; a reciprocating member; a trip-off control means comprising an operating means engageablewith said reciprocating member to actuate said automatic clutch-disengaging and brake-engaging means; a wire guide normally held in position by the yarn in process, said guide being adapted upon discontinuity of the yarn in process to actuate said operating means and to urge the latter into the path of said reciprocating member, thereby moving said operating means to actuate said automatic clutch-disengaging and brake-engaging mechanism.

4. An apparatus for processing artificial textile yarns wherein such yarns are wound on bobbins, comprising a feed rolleradapted to frictionally engage a feed bobbin, a take-up roller frictionally engaging a take-up bobbin, a yarn processing roller, an idler roller positioned at a, distance from said processing roller, a common driving means for positively driving said feed roller, said takeup roller and said processing roller, and means for so maintaining said take-up roller at a greater peripheral speed than the peripheral speed of said feed roller that the yarn is stretched while passing around said processing roller and said idler roller when going from said feed bobbin to said take-up bobbin.

5. An apparatus for processing artificial textile yarns wherein such yarns are wound on bobbins comprising a feed bobbin, a take-up bobbin, a common driving roller to frictionally engage said feed bobbin and said take-up bobbin, a yarn processing roller, at least one idler roller positioned at a distance from said processing roller, and a common driving means for positively driving said common driving roller and said processing roller, such that yarn is flexed-while passing around said processing roller and idler rollers when going from said feed bobbin to said take-up bobbin.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in-which said processing roller and said idler roller are substantially cylindrical in shape, and the axis of said idler roller is disposed at a slight angle with respect to the axis of said processing roller, whereby yarn looped around said rollers will be conveyed from one end of the rollers to the other end. 1 7'. An apparatus as claimed in claim in which said processing roller and said idler roller are "substantially cylindrical in shape, and the axes of said idler rollers are disposed at a slight angle with respect to the axis of said processing roller,

. whereby yarn looped around said rollers will be conveyed from one end of the rollers to the other end.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which said processing roller is at least partially immersed in a liquid, and the surface of said proc-- essing roller is made of a phenol-aldehyde resin.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which said processing roller and said idler rollers are immersed in a heated liquid for setting or stabilizing the yarn.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 having means for applying a heated liquid to the yarn as it is wound on the take-up bobbin for setting the yarn.

11. In apparatus for processing artificial textile yarns wherein such yarns are wound on bobbins, a yarn processing unit comprising a combined qlutch-and-brake mechanism whereby the unit tioned at a distance from said processing roller and being disposed at a slight angle with respect to said processing roller whereby a thread looped around said rollers will be conveyed from one end to the other; said take-up roller being positively driven at a peripheral speed greater than that of said processing roller whereby the yarn in process in stretched a definite and predetermined amount.

may be manually started and brought up to speed and substantially instantaneously stopped upon the discontinuity of the yarn in process; a feed roller adapted to frictionally engage a feed bobbin, the operation of said feed roller being positively controlled by said clutch-and-brake mechanism; a take-up roller frictionally engaging a take-up bobbin, the operation of said takeup roller being positively controlled by said clutch-and-brake mechanism; a yarn processing idler-rollers having substantially parallel axes positioned at a slight angle to said processing roller and adapted to operate in a liquid medium,

and around which the yarn. in process is passed to efiect a flexing of said yarn.

13. In apparatus as claimed in claim 11, friction feed and take-up rollers having rubber sur faces.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said yarn processing roller adapted to carry the yarn .in a liquid has a surface comprising a phenol-aldehyde resin.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, including an idler pulley over which the yarn passes from the supply bobbin to the yarn processing roller, said pulley being positioned at a distance from said supply bobbin at least about three times the wrapped length of said supply bobbin to reduce the angularity oi the yarn as it is unwound from the ends of said supply bobbin.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, including a traverse mechanism, and' an idler pulley over which the yarn passes from the yarn processing roller to the take-up bobbin, said pulley being mounted upon said traverse mechanism at a distance from said yarn processing roller at least about three times the wrapped length of said take-up bobbin to reduce the angularity of the yarn as it is unwound from the ends of said supply bobbin.

1'7. In a yarn processing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, means for setting or stabilizing the yarn, which comprises a spray or jet of heated liquid directed against the yarn as it passes onto the bobbin.

18. In a yarn processing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, means for setting or stabilizing the yarn, which comprises a heated liquid bath positioned so as to maintain a film of the heated liquid on the take-up roller frictionally engaging the take-up bobbin, thereby carrying heated liquid in contact with the yarn being wound.

LEE C. HOSFIELD. 

